[Breaking News] Reports of 'Tap Water Larvae' Found Surge Nationwide... Growing Anxiety Spreads

On the 21st, as public anxiety grows over larvae in tap water, officials are collecting samples at the activated carbon adsorption chamber of the Ttukdo Arisu Water Purification Center in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As larvae in tap water continue to be found in the Incheon and Gyeonggi areas, reports of larvae or insects appearing in various parts of the country, including Seoul, Daejeon, and Ulsan, are increasing, spreading public anxiety.

On the 21st, a report was received of larvae found in a multi-family house in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, prompting the Seoul Waterworks Headquarters to conduct an investigation.

In Daejeon, reports of tap water larvae also continued. On the afternoon of the 20th, a resident of a multi-family house in Goejeong-dong, Seo-gu, reported, "There are insects presumed to be tap water larvae in the kitchen sink."

The Waterworks Headquarters is assessing that these insects are likely larvae that came up from under the sink, not the chironomid larvae that have recently been problematic.

Additionally, two reports were received in Jung-gu, but both were confirmed to be insects found while washing vegetables.

In Anyang-si, Gyeonggi, on the 20th, a report was made of larvae found in tap water collected from a washbasin in an apartment in Bakdal-dong. However, upon verification, these larvae were identified as insect larvae that entered from outside the building, not from the tap water.

In apartments in Jung-gu and Ulju-gun, Ulsan, reports of larvae and insects found on the 20th and 16th respectively led the Waterworks Headquarters to investigate, but they considered the possibility of external infiltration.